Methods and apparatuses for efficient battery utilization during content delivery in telecommunication networks

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses and methods for controlling a manner of delivering content to a content user in a mobile telecommunication network are provided. The content is sent to the content user using first a first transmission rate when the content user is in a first radio state and uses a first battery power, and then using a second transmission rate that is lower than the first transmission rate, when the content user is in a second radio state and uses a second battery power that is smaller than the first battery power. The sending is performed such as, (A) while delivering the content, an amount of the content already received by the content user to exceed an amount of the content used by the content user, and (B) to minimize an energy used by the content user during delivery.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/606,194, filed on Jan. 27, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/375,690, filed on Dec. 1, 2011, now U.S.Pat. No. 8,965,351, which is U.S. National Stage Application ofPCT/IB2011/002595 filed Nov. 2, 2011, which claims priority from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/507,807, filed on Jul. 14, 2011,the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to apparatuses, software andmethods that establish the manner in which multimedia content isstreamed towards user equipment (UE), to achieve an efficientutilization of the UE's battery by taking into consideration thepotential abandonment of using the whole content.

BACKGROUND

Mobile and fixed user equipments (UEs) are capable to present multimediacontent (e.g., video or audio clips) from various content providers in atelecommunication network. A variety of hardware and softwaregenerically named mobile cloud accelerator (MCA) concur in makingpossible to provide the content as promptly, efficiently and seamlesslyas possible. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a UE 10 (which canbe mobile or fixed user equipment) receives multimedia content suppliedby content providers 20 and 30, via MCA 40. Within the MCA 40, theactual manner of delivery of the content to the UE 10 may includevarious mechanisms like radio prioritization, proxy caching for example,using Akamai type content delivery network (CDN), and transparentinternet cache (TIC), etc.

Depending on the manner in which the content is delivered, a userequipment (UE) may be in one of a plurality of states characterized bydifferent power usage. For the purpose of illustration and not oflimitation, a UE may be in one of four WCDMA radio states (as described,for example, in the latest edition of “WCDMA for UMTS: HSPA Evolutionand LTE” by Harri Holma, Antti Toskala): high (when a DedicatedCHannel—DCH—is used), low (when a Forward Access Channel—FACH—is used),standby (when only a Paging Channel—PCH—may be used to access the UTRANRegistration Area—URA) and idle, when the UE is not connected to thenetwork. These states and transitions there-between are illustrated inFIG. 2.

A “typical handset” has a 1000 mAh battery, although batteries of somesmart-phones may have up to 1500 mAh. Timeouts are usually under thecontrol of the network operator, not the handset or application.

In the Idle state, the UE is neither receiving nor transmitting. Live(although silent) TCP connections may be present. The power cost is lowin the Idle state. There is also a PCH state, which is similarlylow-power, and again it is only used when the UE is silent (i.e.,neither receiving nor transmitting data). The current used in the Idleand the PCH state is about 8 mA—likely affected mainly by the energyprofiler.

In the FACH state, the UE uses a shared channel for low-bandwidthcommunications. Packet sizes must be small—around 128 octets maximum,although actual size is controlled by the MNO. This threshold includesthe overheads from TCP and TLS, which are 52 and 5 octets respectively,leaving around 70 octets for the payload data. Getting the UE in theFACH state takes around 2.5 s before the data can flow, although thepower rises instantly when the transfer to FACH state is initiated.After a communication session ends, the UE remains in FACH state for apredetermined time (i.e., timeout).

In the FACH state, the current is about 120 mA, and the timeout is atleast 8 seconds (but it may be up to around 2 minutes). Operating atypical handset in the FACH state exhausts the typical handset batteryin around 7 hours.

In the DCH state, the UE uses a dedicated channel for high (rate)bandwidth communications. As in the case of the FACH state, getting theUE in the DCH state takes around 2.5 s at the DCH power level, and thereis a timeout after communication ends before the UE transitions into alower power state. From the DCH state, some UEs drop to the FACH stateand remain in this state for the duration of the FACH timeout, other UEsdrop directly to the Idle/PCH state. Attempts to communicating more datathan the FACH threshold rate may result in a transition of the UE to theDCH state, the transition taking, again, about 2.5 s.

In the DCH state, the current is about 250 mA and the timeout is atleast 8 s. Operating a typical handset in the DCH state exhausts thetypical handset battery in less than 3 hours. Transmission of data canuse up to 2 W, and raising the level itself takes between 2 and 3 s totake effect—during which time the handset cannot receive or transmit,but still incurs the power cost. There are packets (e.g., signalingload) sent from and to the handset during this time.

The data rates, latency, and other resource usage are also different fordifferent states, as illustrated on x-axis of FIG. 2. Transition betweenstates (also illustrated in FIG. 2) occurs depending on whether datatransfer activity is maintained (e.g., after predetermined timeintervals with no activity), and on the ongoing application sessions.Relative power is represented on the y-axis of FIG. 2 (1 correspondingto a maximum).

Currently, parameter settings in mobile networks are not adaptable fordifferent needs of various applications and are instead global.Therefore operators need to choose a parameter combination set basedupon the application type that is most widespread in their network. Fortypical “Always on” applications, battery life is considered morecritical, compared to slightly higher data transfer delay, and thereforesetting lower inactivity times are preferred. Lower inactivity timesalso allow better utilization of network resources as the idle resourcescan be quickly re-allocated to other active users, increasing overallnetwork capacity.

According to current version of 3GPP specification (as reflected incurrent versions of the documentation), in 3GPP networks, the radiostates are set in the UE by signaling from the RRC function in thenetwork. As shown in FIG. 2, there are different triggers for thetransitions from one state to another.

However, the conventional systems and methods do not deliver content ina manner which takes into consideration user abandonment, therebyemploying strategies that would minimize the energy used from the UE'sbattery. The energy stored in the battery may be fast and wastefullyexhausted when used to a transfer of content that is not in factplayed-out. Moreover, waste of bandwidth and gratuitous network loadalso occur by transferring content that is not actually used.

Different mobile terminal vendors have different approaches toconserving battery energy. When long (˜850 secs) YouTube clip streamingpatterns were provided to an Android terminal, it has been observed thatAndroid terminal employs a strategy whereby the video download isstarted at a high rate and then the terminal begins to throttle thedownload rate. One can assume that the reason for doing this is toensure that the radio is in a low state (Cell_FACH) during most of thedownload period and, thus, to conserve the UE battery power.

When similar long (˜850 secs) YouTube clip streaming patterns wereprovided to an Apple terminal, it has been observed that the Appleterminal uses another strategy: the video is downloaded at the fastestpossible rate and the then the radio is put into idle mode. Staying longin a high power state drains battery (energy is power multiplied withtime). Also multiple transitions between states drain the UE battery. Toincrease the UE battery life, it is important that UE be transitionedinto the ‘Idle’ state as quickly as possible, while still ensuring agood user experience.

The Apple terminal streams the content at high rate which means that theterminal will be in a high power state for a relatively long period andleads to fast battery drain. The Android terminal, after streamingcontent at a high rate in the beginning of the delivery, startsthrottling the content by not emptying its TCP buffer and forcing theserver to send at a lower rate. This manner of controlling contentdelivery has the effect that the terminal is in a FACH state for anextended period of time (longer than necessary for continuous deliveryof the content), and, therefore, the UE battery is utilizedinefficiently.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide controllers and methodscapable to optimize the manner of delivering content towards userequipment in a telecommunication network, such as to efficiently use theUE's battery.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments include distributed content delivery apparatuses(e.g., MCA) having at least one processor and an interface, and beingconfigured to control a manner in which multimedia content is deliveredto a user equipment (UE), such as to minimize the energy used from theUE's battery by taking into consideration the abandonment rate beforeplaying-out the entire content. The abandonment rate before playing-outthe entire content is taken into consideration by maintaining the amountof delivered content larger than the amount of used content only such asto maintain a smooth usage, but not rushing to deliver the content assoon as possible, because the energy and bandwidth used for the transferare wasted if the content user abandons using the content.

Other embodiments include methods employed in controlling a contentdelivery towards a UE include determining a manner in which multimediacontent is delivered to a user equipment (UE) such that to minimize theenergy used from UE's battery by taking into consideration theabandonment rate before using the entire content.

These apparatuses and methods facilitate extending the UE's battery lifeand decrease bandwidth waste and network load.

According to an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus configured to controldelivering content from a content source provider to a content user in amobile telecommunication network is provided. The apparatus includes aprocessing unit configured to receive the content from the contentsource provider, and to send the content to the content user using firsta first transmission rate when the content user is in a first radiostate, and then a second transmission rate that is lower than the firsttransmission rate, when the content user is in a second radio state. Thecontent user uses a first battery power while in the first radio state,and a second battery power while in the second radio state, the secondbattery power being smaller than the first battery power. The processingunit sends the content such as, while delivering the content, an amountof the content already received by the content user to exceed an amountof the content used by the content user, and to minimize an energy usedby the content user.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for managing adelivery of content from a content source provider to a content user ina telecommunication network is provided. The method includes receivingthe content from the content source provider, and sending the content tothe content user using first a first transmission rate when the contentuser is in a first radio state, and then a second transmission rate thatis lower than the first transmission rate, when the content user is in asecond radio state. The content user uses a first battery power while inthe first radio state, and a second battery power while in the secondradio state, the second battery power being smaller than the firstbattery power. The sending operation is performed such as (A) whiledelivering the content, an amount of the content already received by thecontent user to exceed an amount of the content used by the contentuser, and (B) to minimize an energy used by the content user.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a computer readable mediumstoring executable codes which, when executed on a computer, make thecomputer to perform a method for managing a delivery of content from acontent source provider to a content user in a communication network isprovided. The method includes receiving the content from the contentsource provider, and sending the content to the content user using firsta first transmission rate when the content user is in a first radiostate, and then a second transmission rate that is lower than the firsttransmission rate, when the content user is in a second radio state. Thecontent user uses a first battery power while in the first radio state,and a second battery power while in the second radio state, the secondbattery power being smaller than the first battery power. The sendingoperation is performed such as (A) while delivering the content, anamount of the content already received by the content user to exceed anamount of the content used by the content user, and (B) to minimize anenergy used by the content user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and,together with the description, explain these embodiments. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional content delivery system;

FIG. 2 is a graph-flow of states and transitions;

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating abandonment rate relative to viewingtime;

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a delivery of the whole content usingonly the highest data rate;

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating a delivery of the content using differentdata rates, according to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating another delivery of the content usingdifferent data rates, according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating other manners of delivering the contentusing different data rates, according to other exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating operations taking place whiledelivering a video file using a strategy according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram of a method according to an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to theaccompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawingsidentify the same or similar elements. The following detaileddescription does not limit the invention. Instead, the scope of theinvention is defined by the appended claims. The following embodimentsare discussed, for simplicity, with regard to the terminology andstructure of a content delivery system in a mobile network, for example,a system meeting the characteristics described in the current 3GPPdocumentation. However, the embodiments to be discussed next are notlimited to these systems but may be applied to other existing contentdelivery systems, such as (but not limited to) WIFI systems.

Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included inat least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearanceof the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in variousplaces throughout the specification is not necessarily all referring tothe same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures orcharacteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or moreembodiments.

Studies have also shown that often a user abandons data transfer afterusing a relative small portion from the entire content. For example,when video is streamed (e.g., from a service such as YouTube), usersoften view just the first part of a video and skip the rest due toabsence of interest in the content. FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating thecorrelation between the abandonment rate (on y-axis) and the viewed time(on x-axis). Thus, the longer the average viewer watches a clip, themore likely he or she is to abandon it. The benchmark initialabandonment rate of 19.4% is nearly double previously reported industryfigures. Further, the rate of viewer abandonment increases along arelatively predictable trajectory: 33.4% abandonment at 30 seconds ofplayback; 44.1% abandonment at 60 seconds; 52.5% at 90 seconds; and58.5% at 120 seconds.

Various embodiments of the inventive concept provide apparatuses andmethods of finding a battery efficient mode of delivery a video stream,which takes into account the viewer abandonment factor. The embodimentsmay include using a proxy located between content source provider (i.e.,the origin server), and the fixed or mobile user terminal (i.e., UE).The apparatus receives multimedia content from the content sourceprovider, and determines a sequence of states to be used to send thevideo file to the terminal. Each state lasts a specific time intervalduring which the transfer is delivered using a certain transfer rate. Inother words, the selection of a state also means the selection of atransfer rate. The content has to be delivered to the terminal (UE) suchthat to avoid a buffer under-run situation, in which a shortage of videodata to be played-out occurs and the video play-out stops (i.e. a blankscreen). Meanwhile the energy used for the delivery is sought to beminimized. To generalize without limiting, one may assume that thecontent is transferred using at least a first transmission rate when thecontent user is in a first radio state, and a second transmission ratethat is lower than the first transmission rate, when the content user isin a second radio state. The content user uses more battery power whilein the first radio state than when it is in the second radio state.

One simplistic strategy (illustrated in FIG. 4) is to send all the datausing the first transmission rate. In FIG. 4, the y axis representstransmission rates and the x axis represents time. This simplisticstrategy is represented as the line 410 where the transmission rateTR_(DCH) is constant for t_(DCH). Parallel with the content delivery,the content is played-out at TR_(clip) for t_(clip) time. The graph areaA₀=TR_(clip)×t_(clip) is substantial equal with the graph areaA₁=TR_(DCH)×t_(DCH) being an illustration of the size of the content(e.g., video clip). However, this “high-rate only” simplistic approachis not optimal, but it may be employed when the size of the clip issmall.

A preferred strategy which is illustrated in FIG. 5, is to transmitfirst a burst of content (e.g., video data) in high radio state (DCH) atthe beginning of the delivery, and, then to continue sending video datain a low radio state (FACH). In other words as represented by the line510, the first transmission rate TR_(DCH) is constant for t_(DCH′) andthen, the second transmission rate TR_(FACH) is constant until t_(FACH).The effect of this strategy is that the delivery is paced out over time,and, if the viewer abandons using the content (i.e., watching the videoclip), an amount as little as possible of video data is wasted (havingalready been delivered). The graph area A₀=TR_(clip)×t_(clip) issubstantial equal with the graph areaA₂=TR_(DCH)×t_(DCH)+TR_(FACH)×(t_(FACH)−t_(DCH)) being an illustrationof the size of the content (e.g., video clip).

In FIG. 5, the second transmission rate TR_(FACH) is larger than therate of using the content (i.e., at which the content is played-out)TR_(clip). However, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the second transmissionrate TR_(FACH) may be smaller than the rate of using the content (i.e.,at which the content is played-out) TR_(clip). Depending on relativesizes of t_(DCH), t_(FACH), and t_(clip) it is possible that thedelivered content be exhausted and then the playout may be impeded bylack of content to be played as illustrated in FIG. 6.

In order to avoid the playout being impeded by lack of content to beplayed, as illustrated in FIG. 7 another period of using the first(high) transmission rate may be employed. This additional period ofusing the first (high) transmission rate may last until the wholecontent is delivered as represented by 710, or only as long as to bufferenough delivered content to ensure that an amount of the content alreadyreceived by the content user exceeds an amount of the content used bythe content user, while delivering the content, as represented by 720.The manner of delivering the content, i.e., duration and sequence ofusing different transmission rates is such as, besides ensuring enoughcontent to be played out, to minimize a time during which the contentuser is in the first radio state, wherein the content user uses a firstbattery power larger than a second battery power while in the secondradio state.

The transition between states is also associated with a certain amountof signaling. The time and energy consumed during transition have alsoto be taken into consideration. The apparatus (or, more specific, aprocessing unit of the apparatus) is configured to send respective stateconfiguring signals to the content user before starting to send thecontent using the first transmission rate or using the secondtransmission rate.

The optimization may include finding duration t_(DCH′) of the transferat high rate (in DCH state) at the beginning of the video contentdelivery, and implicitly the duration of the transfer at the low rateuntil the end of the video file delivery t_(FACH). The energy consumed Qfor transferring the video file to the terminal (UE) is power multipliedwith time, and, thus, it is proportional to the current I multipliedwith time t (the potential difference V being constant): Q=IVt. Someconstraints have to be met: the data (transfer or played-out) ratemultiplied with time for A2, A1, and A0 are equal. The minimum time atwhich video data is transferred at high rate may be required to belarger than a predetermined value, e.g., 10 s. The goal of theoptimization is to use less battery energy when employing a strategysuch as A2 than when, such as A1, only high delivery rate is used:Q_(A2)<Q_(A1).

For example, FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating operations takingplace while delivering a video file using a strategy according to anexemplary embodiment, in a system 800. The apparatus 810 controlsdelivery of content towards the user equipment (UE) 830 via abase-station (NB) 820, eNodeB or WiFi access point. The apparatus 810may be associated with a cache memory 840 where the content receivedfrom the content source is stored. The apparatus 810 learns or measuresduration of the content (e.g., video clip) and playout rate at S811. Theapparatus 810 also includes a timer (i.e., some time measuring means)that assists in measuring predetermined periods of time, such as t_(DCH)during which the content is transferred using the first (high)transmission rate. At S812, the timer starts measuring t_(DCH), and mayprovide a signal when t_(DCH) expires.

The apparatus 810 sends a message “1” to NB 820 to signal the UE 830 toswitch to the DCH state. NB 820 sends a reconfiguration message “2”accordingly. The UE 830 transitions to the DCH state and sends a message“3” to NB 820 regarding to this transition. NB 820 further informs theapparatus 810 about the transition via a message “4.” Upon receiving themessage “4,” the apparatus 810 streams content towards UE 830 via NB 820using the first (DCH) transmission rate as illustrated by “5.” Theapparatus 810 then measures (occasionally or monitors) an actualtransfer rate TR_(DCH) at S813.

After t_(DCH) expires at S814, the apparatus 810 sends a message “6” toNB 820, to signal the UE 830 to switch to the FACH state. NB 820 sends areconfiguration message “7” accordingly. The UE 830 transitions to theFACH state at S832, and sends a message “8” to NB 820 regarding to thistransition. NB 820 further informs the apparatus 810 about thetransition via a message “9.”

The apparatus 810 then measures an actual transfer rate TR_(FACH) atS815. The measured TR_(FACH) is compared with the play-out rate at S816.If TR_(FACH) is larger than the play-out rate (i.e., the “+” branch),the rest of the content is delivered while the UE remains in the FACHstate. If TR_(FACH) is smaller than the play-out rate (i.e., the “−”branch), at S818, the apparatus 810 uses an algorithm in which the usedenergy is evaluated to determine a manner of transmitting the rest ofthe content. The apparatus 810 also sends to sends a message “10” to NB820, to signal the UE 830 to switch to the DCH state. NB 820 sends areconfiguration message “11” accordingly. The rest of the message isthen streamed as indicated by “12.”

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 900 which is an exemplaryembodiment of the algorithm that evaluates the used energy to determinea manner of transmitting the rest of the content (e.g., a clip) at S818.The method first determines the size of the clip, at S910, and the sizeof the clip left to be streamed (i.e., the rest of the content), atS920. Then, a time necessary to deliver the clip left to be streamed iscalculated at S930. At S940, the calculated time is compared with aremaining time to the end of the clip. If the calculated time is equalto or less than the remaining time (i.e., the “+” branch), the rest ofthe clip is delivered using the DCH state, at S950.

The calculated time is compared with a remaining time to the end of theclip. If the calculated time is larger than the remaining time (i.e.,the “-” branch), a first energy Q_(DCH) is used if the clip left to bestreamed (i.e., the rest of the content) is streamed while the UE is inthe DCH state is calculated at S960, and a second energy Q_(mix) used ifthe clip left to be streamed (i.e., the rest of the content) is streamedwhile the UE is both in the DCH state and in the FACH state iscalculated at S970.

The first energy Q_(DCH) and the second energy Q_(mix) are compared atS980. If first energy Q_(DCH) is larger than the second energy Q_(mix)(i.e., the “+” branch), at S990, the UE is reconfigured to the FACHstate where it uses the lower power level. Otherwise (i.e., the “−”branch), the UE is maintained in the DCH state, S950.

According to another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus 1000 capable todetermine a manner in which multimedia content is delivered from asource proxy to a UE in a mobile network, while taking intoconsideration the user drop-out rate, and using the UE batteryefficiently, may include an input/output interface 1010 and a processor1020, as illustrated in FIG. 10. The controller 1000 may further includea computer readable storage medium 1030 storing software (i.e.,executable codes) which, when executed by the processor 1020, determinesthe processor 1020 to optimize a manner in which multimedia content isdelivered from a source proxy to a UE in a mobile network, while takinginto consideration the user drop-out rate and using the UE batteryefficiently.

A flow diagram of a method 1100 employed in controlling a contentdelivery from a source proxy towards a UE in a mobile network, accordingto an exemplary embodiment, is illustrated in FIG. 11. The method 1100includes receiving the content from the content source provider, atS1110, and sending the content to the content user using first a firsttransmission rate when the content user is in a first radio state, andthen a second transmission rate that is lower than the firsttransmission rate, when the content user is in a second radio state. Thecontent user uses a first battery power while in the first radio state,and a second battery power while in the second radio state, the secondbattery power being smaller than the first battery power. The sending isperformed such that, (A) while delivering the content, an amount of thecontent already received by the content user to exceed an amount of thecontent used by the content user, and (B) to minimize a time duringwhich the content user is in the first radio state.

In one embodiment, the method 1100 may further include sendingrespective state configuring signals to the content user before startingto send the content using the first transmission rate or using thesecond transmission rate. In the same or another embodiment, the proxymay communicate with the content user via a base station (NB), which isan eNodeB or a WiFi access point.

In one embodiment, the method 1100 may also include storing the contentreceived from the content provider to be sent to the content user. Themethod 1100 may also include determining a first time interval forsending the content using the first transmission rate, based on a sizeof the content, a playout rate, the first transmission rate and thesecond transmission rate, the first transmission rate being larger thanthe playout rate.

In another embodiment, the method 1100 may further include receivingmeasurements of a delivery rate at which the content user receives thecontent, and sending a remaining portion of the content using the secondtransmission rate if the playout rate is smaller than a value of thedelivery rate measured while the content user is in the second radiostate after the first time interval. Besides these operations, themethod may additionally include sending the remaining portion of thecontent using the second transmission rate if an estimated delivery timethat is necessary for the content user to receive a remaining portion ofthe content according to the value of the delivery rate measured whilethe content user is in the second radio state, is less than a remainingtime for the content user to entirely use the content. Further, incombination with these operations, the method may also include, if theestimated delivery time exceeds the remaining time for the content userto entirely use the content, calculating a first amount of energy usedby the content user to receive the remaining portion of the contentwhile in the first state, and a second amount of energy used by thecontent user to receive the remaining portion of the content while inthe first state and in the second state, using a first battery powercorresponding to the first radio state and a second battery powercorresponding to the second radio state. The method 1100 would then alsoinclude sending the remaining portion of the content using the firsttransmission rate if the first amount of energy exceeds the secondamount of energy, or sending the remaining content using the firsttransmission rate and the second transmission rate if the first amountof energy does not exceed the second amount of energy. In oneembodiment, the method may also include estimating the remaining portionof the content using at least one value of the delivery rate measuredwhile the content user is in the first radio state, during the firsttime interval, and at least one value of the delivery rate measuredwhile the content user is in the second radio state, after the firsttime interval.

The disclosed exemplary embodiments provide controllers, methods andsoftware for determining a manner in which multimedia content isdelivered from a source proxy to a UE in a mobile network, while takinginto consideration the user drop-out rate and using the UE batteryefficiently. It should be understood that this description is notintended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the exemplaryembodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications andequivalents, which are included in the spirit and scope of theinvention. Further, in the detailed description of the exemplaryembodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea comprehensive understanding of the inventive concept. However, oneskilled in the art would understand that various embodiments may bepracticed without such specific details.

The exemplary embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment or an embodiment combining hardware and software aspects.Further, the exemplary embodiments may take the form of a computerprogram product stored on a computer-readable storage medium havingcomputer-readable instructions embodied in the medium. Any suitablecomputer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs,digital versatile disc (DVD), optical storage devices, or magneticstorage devices such a floppy disk or magnetic tape. Other non-limitingexamples of computer readable media include flash-type memories or otherknown memories.

Although the features and elements of the present exemplary embodimentsare described in the embodiments in particular combinations, eachfeature or element can be used alone without the other features andelements of the embodiments or in various combinations with or withoutother features and elements disclosed herein. The methods or flow chartsprovided in the present application may be implemented in a computerprogram, software, or firmware tangibly embodied in a computer-readablestorage medium for execution by a specifically programmed computer orprocessor.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for reception of content by a userequipment, the method comprising: receiving, by the user equipment, thecontent at a first transmission rate for a first time interval, and thenat a second transmission rate that is lower than the first transmissionrate, wherein the first time interval is based on a size of the content,wherein the content is received using the first or second transmissionrates when an amount of the content already received by the userequipment exceeds an amount of the content used by the user equipment,and wherein the user equipment uses less power for the secondtransmission rate than for the first transmission rate.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first time interval is further based on a playoutrate at the user equipment, the first transmission rate and/or thesecond transmission rate.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving respective state configuring signals before starting toreceive the content using the first transmission rate or using thesecond transmission rate.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein content isreceived from a proxy via a base station, which is an eNodeB or a WiFiaccess point.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmissionrate is larger than a playout rate.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: sending, by the user equipment, measurements of a deliveryrate at which the user equipment receives the content; and receiving, bythe user equipment, a remaining portion of the content using the secondtransmission rate if the playout rate is smaller than a value of thedelivery rate measured after the first time interval.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprising: receiving a remaining portion of thecontent using the second transmission rate if an estimated delivery timethat is necessary for the user equipment to receive a remaining portionof the content according to the value of the measured delivery rate isless than a remaining time for the user equipment to entirely use thecontent.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the remaining portion of thecontent is received using the first transmission rate if a first amountof energy exceeds a second amount of energy, or the first transmissionrate and the second transmission rate if the first amount of energy doesnot exceed the second amount of energy, wherein the first amount ofenergy is an amount of energy used by the user equipment to receive theremaining portion at the first transmission rate and the second amountof energy is an amount of energy used by the user equipment to receivethe remaining portion at the second transmission rate.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first and second transmission rates are based on aplayout rate at the user equipment.
 10. A method for reception ofcontent by a user equipment, the method comprising: receiving, by theuser equipment, the content at a first transmission rate and a secondtransmission rate that is lower than the first transmission rate,wherein the content is received at the first transmission rate for afirst time interval, wherein the first time interval is based on a sizeof the content, wherein the user equipment receives the content at thefirst or second transmission rates based on a playout rate at the userequipment when an amount of content already received by the userequipment exceeds an amount of content used by the user equipment, andwherein the user equipment uses less power for the second transmissionrate than for the first transmission rate.
 11. The method of claim 10,further comprising: receiving the content at the second transmissionrate if the second transmission rate exceeds the playout rate; anddetermining usage of the first and second transmission rate to minimizean energy used for delivering the content if the second transmissionrate does not exceed the playout rate.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the first time interval is further based on the playout rate atthe user equipment, the first transmission rate and/or the secondtransmission rate.
 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:receiving respective state configuring signals before starting toreceive the content using the first transmission rate or using thesecond transmission rate.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein content isreceived from a proxy via a base station, which is an eNodeB or a WiFiaccess point.
 15. The method of claim 10, further comprising: sending,by the user equipment, measurements of a delivery rate at which the userequipment receives the content; and receiving, by the user equipment, aremaining portion of the content using the second transmission rate ifthe playout rate is smaller than a value of the delivery rate measuredafter the first time interval.
 16. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising: receiving a remaining portion of the content using thesecond transmission rate if an estimated delivery time that is necessaryfor the user equipment to receive a remaining portion of the contentaccording to the value of the measured delivery rate is less than aremaining time for the user equipment to entirely use the content. 17.The method of claim 16, wherein the remaining portion of the content isreceived using the first transmission rate if a first amount of energyexceeds a second amount of energy, or the first transmission rate andthe second transmission rate if the first amount of energy does notexceed the second amount of energy, wherein the first amount of energyis an amount of energy used by the user equipment to receive theremaining portion at the first transmission rate and the second amountof energy is an amount of energy used by the user equipment to receivethe remaining portion at the second transmission rate.
 18. A userequipment configured to receive content, the user equipment comprising:a processor configured to receive the content at a first transmissionrate for a first time interval, and then at a second transmission ratethat is lower than the first transmission rate, wherein the first timeinterval is based on a size of the content, wherein the content isreceived using the first or second transmission rates when an amount ofthe content already received by the user equipment exceeds an amount ofthe content used by the user equipment, and wherein the user equipmentuses less power for the second transmission rate than for the firsttransmission rate.
 19. The user equipment of claim 18, wherein the firsttime interval is further based on a playout rate at the user equipment,the first transmission rate and/or the second transmission rate.
 20. Theuser equipment of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configuredto receive respective state configuring signals before starting toreceive the content using the first transmission rate or using thesecond transmission rate.
 21. A user equipment configured to receivecontent, the user equipment comprising: a processor configured toreceive the content at a first transmission rate and a secondtransmission rate that is lower than the first transmission rate,wherein the content is received at the first transmission rate for afirst time interval, wherein the first time interval is based on a sizeof the content, wherein the user equipment receives the content at thefirst or second transmission rates based on a playout rate at the userequipment when an amount of content already received by the userequipment exceeds an amount of content used by the user equipment, andwherein the user equipment uses less power for the second transmissionrate than for the first transmission rate.
 22. The user equipment ofclaim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to receive thecontent at the second transmission rate if the second transmission rateexceeds the playout rate; and determine usage of the first and secondtransmission rate to minimize an energy used for delivering the contentif the second transmission rate does not exceed the playout rate. 23.The user equipment of claim 21, wherein the first time interval isfurther based on the playout rate at the user equipment, the firsttransmission rate and/or the second transmission rate.